Canadian discovers $75-million Lotto Max win while buying coffee
Forget caffeine — one Lotto Max player’s morning buzz came from realizing that he was a multimillionaire after scoring the jackpot.
David Hatt is a married father of two from Kingston, Ont., who recalls buying a Lotto Max ticket in August.
“The night before the draw, as I was passing the gas station where I usually get my lottery tickets, something told me to buy a ticket, so I got a Lotto Max Quick Pick and didn’t think anymore about it,” he shared.
The next day, he got into his car and headed out for coffee.
“The next morning, as I was in line at a drive-thru waiting for my coffee, I remembered to check the ticket,” recalled Hatt. “I checked it using the OLG App and thought I had won $75,000 at first — I thought that was awesome! It wasn’t until I took a closer look that I noticed there were a lot more zeros!”
It’s a good thing he listened to his inner voice telling him to buy a lottery ticket, because he had won the second-largest prize in Canadian lottery history: a $75-million Lotto Max jackpot from the Aug. 19, 2025, draw. The biggest prize ever won was the $80 million Lotto Max prize won by B.C. resident Justin Simporios in May.
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Hatt then rushed home to share the news.
“I went home right away and said, ‘I need you to sit down,'” he said. “I showed her the screen on the app, and she asked in disbelief, ‘Is that $75 million?’ I loudly said, ‘YES!’”
He said that he and his wife were so deeply aligned in their values that they both instantly knew what this windfall meant: the ability to help people and create a lasting legacy for generations.
“Of course, we want to support our family, but we also want to give back to our community and assist the most vulnerable in our area,” shared Hatt. “It’s not about helping one charity, but about reaching as many people as possible for the longest amount of time.”
After learning about his win, he held onto his ticket for a few weeks and took time to plan, research, learn, and reflect on what truly matters to him and his family. He also hired a team of professionals to assist him in navigating this life-changing event. But the prudent winner said he has his kids reminding him to enjoy his good fortune.
“My kids are helping me to keep my head in the clouds with them as they dream about their future,” he said, laughing.
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Now with $75 million in his bank account, Hatt said he and his wife can finally buy their dream home.
“We’ve always had a dream of having that special property or that special house, and it was just that, a dream,” he shared. “My wife and I always talk about it, but it wasn’t affordable before. Now that dream will become a reality.”
They also plan to celebrate by taking a trip to Europe, and Hatt said he’s going to treat himself to a new set of golf clubs so he can play golf with his kids.
“We’re going to be pinching ourselves for years to come!” he stated.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.